Corée Du Nord Japon: North Korea fires missiles and tests 600 mm rocket launchers in weekend show of force
corée du nord japon — North Korea launched about ten ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan and conducted a test of 600 mm multiple-rocket launchers on Saturday, in moves timed with annual U. S. -South Korea military exercises. The missile launches were detected at about 12: 20 AM ET on Saturday by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the state news agency KCNA described the rocket exercise as “at the cutting edge of technology. ” Kim Jong-un personally supervised the launcher test, which KCNA said mobilized twelve high-precision 600 mm multiple-rocket launchers and two artillery companies.
Corée Du Nord Japon: What happened, where and how
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected roughly ten ballistic missiles launched from the Sunan region toward the East Sea and timed those detections at about 12: 20 AM ET on Saturday. The South Korean military stated the missiles traveled roughly 350 kilometers and reached altitudes near 80 kilometers before falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. KCNA characterized the 600 mm multiple-rocket launcher exercise as a high-technology trial and said Kim Jong-un oversaw the deployment that involved twelve 600 mm launchers and two artillery companies.
The two actions — the missile salvo and the 600 mm launcher test — took place while South Korea and the United States were carrying out annual joint drills that Pyongyang had denounced, and those combined events frame the current uptick in demonstrations of force.
Immediate reactions from officials and experts
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff issued the technical detection details and said analysis of the missile characteristics is under way. KCNA noted the supervised test and the specific mobilization of launcher units. Commenting on the timing and intent, Hong Sung-pyo, researcher at the Korean Institute for Military Affairs, said, “Global attention is focused on the war in the Middle East and North Korea has always had the habit of carrying out military provocations when it wants to attract attention. “
Leif-Eric Easley, professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, observed, “North Korea is devoting more and more resources to its navy, perhaps with Russian support. But Kim Jong Un will have noticed that the United States was able to sink much of the Iranian navy in the space of a week. ” These expert remarks frame the launches and the launcher test as both capability demonstrations and strategic signalling tied to the ongoing exercises.
Quick background and what to watch next
The missile launches followed Pyongyang’s public criticism of the U. S. -South Korea drills, which are scheduled to last through about March 19. The dual actions — a string of ballistic launches and a high-profile 600 mm multiple-rocket launcher test overseen by Kim Jong-un — mark a concentrated effort by North Korea to display both strike-range and artillery depth while the allies conduct large-scale exercises.
Expect South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff to continue technical analysis of the missiles and for diplomatic and military monitoring to remain heightened in the coming days. International and regional authorities will track further launches, additional launcher drills, and any shifts in messaging from Pyongyang as joint exercises continue; corée du nord japon remains the focal point of immediate security attention as the situation develops.
